Name: ____________________________________ Date: __________
APUSH EXAM FRQ PREP
You will be graded on the following assignment. This is an individual assignment, but you will
need to team with two other students. Each of the three members of your group will need to
choose one of the questions to focus on in EACH of the SECTIONS.
You will need to develop a thesis statement and THREE topic sentences for the following
prompts. With each topic sentence include bullet points that identify relevant historical
information that support your topic sentence and thesis statement.
Example: In what ways did the French and Indian War (1754-1763) alter the political,
economic, and ideological relations between Great Britain and its American colonies? Use
your knowledge of the period 1740-1770 in constructing your response.
Thesis Statement: The French and Indian War produced a set of conditions that altered the
political, economic, and ideological relations between Great Britain and her American colonies
that would eventually result in armed conflict and American independence.
Topic Sentence (ONE sentence for EACH column of in graphic organizer): Great Britain moved
away from a policy of “salutary neglect” and began to exert greater political control over her
colonies.
SFIs: Proclamation of 1763 prohibit colonists to expand beyond Appalachian Mtn. restricting
their right to claim land, Sugar Act…., Stamp Act….., Declaratory Act, Townshend duties...
APUSH Essay Writing Tip #1 and #2
READ THE PROMPT CAREFULLY! ABSOLUTELY NO LISTING!
1
UNIT 2 (1660-1763) - CHOOSE ONE
1.
Compare and contrast the ways in which economic development affected politics in
Massachusetts and Virginia in the period from 1607 to 1750. [2005]
Massachusetts
Virginia
How economic
development affected
politics
Topic Sentences ->
Thesis:
2.
Analyze the origins and development of slavery in Britain's North American colonies in the
period 1607 to 1776. [2011]
Origins of Slavery
Development of Slavery
1607-1776
Topic Sentences ->
Thesis:
2
3.
Evaluate the relative importance of the following as factors prompting Americans to rebel in
1776: parliamentary taxation, restriction of civil liberties, British military measures, the legacy
of colonial religious and political ideas. [1992]
Factors Prompting American Rebellion in
1776 (remember to “evaluate, no listing)
1.Parliamentary taxation
2. Restriction of civil liberties
3. British military measures
4. Legacy of colonial religious & political ideas
Topic Sentence 1:
Topic Sentence 2:
Topic Sentence 3:
Topic Sentence 4:
Thesis:
3
UNIT 3 (1763-1820) - CHOOSE ONE
1. Analyze the ways in which British imperial policies between 1763 and 1776 intensified
colonials' resistance to British rule and their commitment to republican values. [2009]
OR, in other words
Was the American Revolution a political movement (for civil rights) or economic movement?
Political/Civil Rights Issues
Economic Issues
Topic Sentence:
Topic Sentence:
SFIs:
SFIs:
Thesis:
2.
Analyze the ways in which the political, economic, and diplomatic crises of the 1780's shaped
the provisions of the United States Constitution. [2001B]
Political Crises
Economic Crises
Diplomatic Crises
Topic Sentence:
Topic Sentence:
Topic Sentence:
SFIs:
SFIs:
SFIs:
Thesis:
4
3.
Analyze the contributions of the following in helping establish a stable government after the
adoption of the Constitution: John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, George Washington. [2002]
Washington
Adams
Jefferson
Contributions that
helped stabilize the
young republic
Topic Sentences->
Thesis:
5
UNIT 4 (1800-1860) - CHOOSE ONE
1.
How did the following contribute to the reemergence of a two party system in the period 1820
to 1840: major political personalities, States' rights, economic issues. [1999]
Political Personalities States’ rights
Economic Issues
Re-emergence of two- SFIs:
SFIs:
SFIs:
party system
Topic Sentences ->
Thesis:
2.
The Jacksonian Period (1824 - 1848) has been celebrated as the era of the "common man." To
what extent did the period live up to its characterization? Consider the following in your
response: economic development, politics, reform movements. [2001]
Economic
Politics
Reform Movements
development
Era of “common
man”?
Topic Sentences ->
Thesis:
6
3.
Although the power of the national government increased during the early republic, this
development often faced serious opposition. Compare the motives and effectiveness of those
opposed to the growing power of the national government in THREE of the following: Whiskey
Rebellion (1794), Virginia and Kentucky Resolutions (1798-1799), Hartford Convention (18141815), Nullification Crisis (1832-1833). [2003B]
Virginia & Kentucky
Hartford Convention
Nullification Crisis
Resolutions
Motives
Effectiveness
Topic Sentences ->
Thesis:
7
UNIT 5 (1844-1877) - CHOOSE ONE, EVERYONE MUST DO #4
1.
To what extent and in what ways did the roles of women change in American society between
1790 and 1860? Respond with reference to the following areas: domestic, economic, political,
social. [2004B]
Domestic/Social
Economic
Political
To what extent?
In what ways?
Topic Sentences ->
Thesis:
2.
Analyze the political, economic, and religious tensions between immigrant Roman Catholics and
native-born Protestants in the U.S. from the 1830's through the 1850's. [2009B]
Roman Catholics
Political tensions
Economic tensions
Religious tensions
Topic Sentences ->
Thesis:
8
Native-born Protestants
3.
Analyze the impact of the market revolution (1815-1860) on the economies of TWO of the
following regions: the Northeast, the Midwest, the South. [2008]
NE
MW
South
Impact of market
revolution
Topic Sentences ->
Thesis:
4. Discuss the impact of territorial expansion on national unity between 1800 and 1850.
[1997]
OR, in other words
Long-Term Causes
(consider the ways northern &
southern states differed since colonial
times: economically, politically,
socially)
Causes of the Civil War
Short-Term Causes
(Consider the ways westward
expansion-manifest destiny magnified
those fundamental differences in the
1840s and 1850s)
Topic Sentences ->
Thesis:
9
Triggers
(What events from 1855-1861
escalated the conflict to a point of no
return?)
UNIT 6 (1877-1917) - CHOOSE TWO
1.
Evaluate the impact of the Civil War on political and economic developments in TWO of the
following regions: the South, the North, the West. Focus your answer on the period between
1865 and 1900. [2003]
The South
The North
The West
Impact on political
developments
Impact on economic
development
Topic Sentences ->
Thesis:
2.
Following Reconstruction, many southern leaders promoted the idea of a "New South." To
what extent was this "New South" a reality by the time of the First World War? In your answer
be sure to address the following: economic development, politics, race relations. [2008]
Economic
Politics
Race Relations
Development
How was “New
South” a reality?
Topic Sentences ->
Thesis:
10
3.
Compare and contrast the attitudes of the following toward the wealth that was created in the
U.S. during the late nineteenth-century: Eugene V. Debs, Horatio Alger, Booker T. Washington,
Ida M. Tarbell. [1994]
Eugene Debs
Horatio Alger
Booker T.
Washington
Ida Tarbell
Attitudes toward
wealth?
Similarities?
Differences?
Topic Sentences ->
Thesis:
4.
Explain how EACH of the following individuals responded to the economic and social problems
created by industrialization during the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries: Jane
Adams, Andrew Carnegie, Samuel Gompers, Upton Sinclair. [2007B]
Jane Adams
Andrew
Samuel Gompers
Upton Sinclair
Carnegie
Response to
Economic
Problems
Response to
Social
Problems
Topic
Sentences ->
Thesis:
11
5.
How were the lives of the Plains Indians in the second half of the nineteenth-century affected
by technological developments and government actions? [1999]
Technological Developments
Government Actions
How lives of Plains
Indians were
impacted?
Topic Sentences ->
Thesis:
6.
To what extent did the role of the federal government change under President Theodore
Roosevelt in regard to TWO of the following: labor, trusts, conservation, world affairs. [2007]
Labor
Trusts
Conservation
World Affairs
Changes in the
Role of Federal
Government
under TR
Trusts
Conservation
World Affairs
Topic
Sentences ->
Thesis:
12
UNIT 7 (1890-1945) - CHOOSE TWO
1. Analyze the extent to which the Spanish-American War was a turning point in
American foreign policy. [2008B]
2.
Compare and contrast the ways that many Americans expressed their opposition to
immigrants in the 1840's - 1850's with the ways that many Americans expressed their
opposition to immigrants in the 1910's - 1920's. [2011]
American Opposition to
Similarities
American Opposition to
Immigrants, 1840s-1850s
Immigrants, 1910s-1920s
Topic Sentences ->
Thesis:
13
3.
Analyze the ways in which state and federal legislation and judicial decisions, including those
of the Supreme Court, affected the efforts of the following groups to improve their position in
society between 1880 and 1920: African Americans, Farmers, Workers. [1993]
Federal Legislation, 1880Judicial Decisions, 1880-1920
1920
African Americans
Farmers
Workers
Topic Sentences ->
Thesis:
4.
Evaluate and compare the effectiveness of Progressive Era reforms as a response to the
excesses of the Gilded Age with the New Deal initiatives undertaken by Franklin Roosevelt in
response to the Great Depression.
Progressive Era Reforms
New Deal Initiatives (What)
(What/Who)
Effectiveness?
Effectiveness?
Topic Sentences ->
Thesis:
14
5.
Assess the impact that World War I and World War II had on domestic affairs in 1914-1919
and 1941-1945. How were these developments similar and different?
Similarities
WWII Impacts on Domestic Affairs,
1941-1945
WWI Impacts on Domestic
Affairs, 1914-1919
WWII Impacts on Domestic
Affairs, 1941-1945
Topic Sentences ->
Thesis:
6.
Analyze the effectiveness of Progressive Era reformers in addressing problems of the late
nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. In your answer, focus on reform efforts in TWO of the
following areas: State and Federal Government, The Workplace, Living Conditions in Cities.
[2010]
State & Federal
The Workplace
Living Conditions in
Government
Cities
What were the
Reforms
Effective or not?
Must explain.
Topic Sentences ->
Thesis:
15
UNIT 8 (1945-Present) - CHOOSE THREE
1.
Analyze the ways in which the following shaped American politics after the Second World War:
Anticommunism in the 1940's and 1950's, the women's liberation movement in the 1960's, the
"silent majority" in the 1970's. [2002B]
Anti-communism
Women’s Movement,
“Silent Majority”,
1960s
1970s
Ways it shaped
American politics?
Topic Sentences ->
Thesis:
2.
Discuss, with respect to THREE of the following, the view that the 1960’s represented a period
of profound cultural change: education, gender roles, music, race relations.
Education
Gender Roles
Music
Race Relations
How the
1960’s
represented
profound
cultural
change?
Topic ->
Thesis:
16
3.
"Between 1960 and 1975, there was great progress in the struggle for political and social
equality." Assess the validity of this statement with respect to THREE of the following groups
during the period: African Americans, Asian Americans, Latinos, Native Americans, Women.
[2004B]
African Americans
Latinos
Women
Great progress for
political equality?
Why or why not?
Great progress for
social equality? Why
or why not?
Topic Sentences ->
Thesis:
4.
"Landslide presidential victories do not ensure continued political effectiveness or legislative
success." Assess the validity of this statement by comparing TWO of the following presidential
administrations: Franklin D. Roosevelt (1936), Lyndon B. Johnson (1964), Richard Nixon (1972),
Ronald Reagan (1984). [2007]
FDR
LBJ
RN
RR
How were they
successful
political/legislative
agendas despite
landslide
victories?
Topic Sentences ->
Thesis:
17
5.
Analyze the ways in which the Vietnam War heightened social, political, and economic tensions
in the U.S. Focus your answer on the period 1964 to 1975. [2008]
Social Tension
Political Tensions
Economic Tensions
Vietnam War
Topic Sentences ->
Thesis:
6.
Analyze the ways in which the events and trends of the 1970's diminished the nation's
economic power and international influence, and challenged Americans' confidence in both.
[2009B]
National Economic
International
Challenged
Power
Influence
Americans’
confidence
Events & Trends of
1070s
Topic Sentences ->
Thesis:
18
7.
Explain the causes and consequences of TWO of the following population movements in the
United States during the period 1945 - 1985: Suburbanization, The Growth of the Sun Belt, and
Immigration to the U.S. [2010]
Suburbanization
Growth of Sun Belt
Immigration of US
Causes &
consequences of pop.
movement, 19451985
Topic Sentences ->
Thesis:
8.
African American leaders have responded to racial discrimination in the U.S. in a variety of
ways. Compare and contrast the goals and strategies of African American leaders in the 1890's
- 1920's with the goals and strategies of African American leaders in the 1950's - 1960's. [2011]
African American Leaders in
African American Leaders in
1890s-1920s
1950s-1960s
Goals & Strategies
Similarities
Differences
Topic Sentences ->
Thesis:
19
9.
Compare and contrast the women's rights movement of the 1840's - 1860's with the women's
rights movement of the 1960's - 1980's. [2011B]
Women’s Rights Movement,
Women’s Rights Movement,
1840’s-1860’s
1960’s-1980’s
Goals & Strategies
Similarities
Differences
Topic Sentences ->
Thesis:
20